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Uniforms Damn

Game Damn

In my mind, my commitment to soccer had ceased as soon as Jeotten to share that assessment with the other fifteen players and their families

I should have taken up Mrs Toca’s offer to watch the kids I could ency excuse

Ma’aitive I have to kill Just tell the kids to work on their passing

But I heard the tea up her throat as she pleaded, "Coach

?"

"I’l be there in five minutes"

"Oh, okay," her voice quavered "Thank God Iup or a child broke the phone

Seventeen ain had dried out just enough to avoid canceling practice It was as if God had declared divine protection over this sround, and scheduled His Flood around practice tiet my teekly punishment

Except for Jem, the whole team was there--fifteen miniature tornadoes who’d been cooped up indoors since the last tio, and were desperate to unwind every ounce of energy at my expense

A few mothers waited impatiently on the field No doubt I’d made them late for theirlooks by brandishing the soccer shirts

"Sorry," Iful of neon-orange clothes had been sitting in my truck for a week, but the distraction worked

The kids yel ed, "Uniforees The aainst Saint Mark’s!" I cal ed to the rumpy inner voice: And I hope you have fun without ht orange tube socks fro each other Laura and Jack were playing leap-frog

I blehistle "On the line!"

Nobody got on the line, but the chaos ress

"I’ve been practicingus wrong!"

"That’s great, Paul"

Kathleen pointed aton your head!"

"Scriot to do soe!"

Pretty soon the whole tribe had taken up the cal

I relented

We went eight on seven Jack took Jees and twenty-seven water breaks later, the rain started co down--just in time for the end of practice

I blehistle "Circle up!"

To my surprise, the whole tearass

"The game is at ten on Saturday," I said "What ti, Paul?"

"Saint Mark’s!"

Two right answers in a row teed at my sock "Where’s Jem? Is he sick?"

"He’sout of town"

"He’l be here, right? He’s our best goalie!"

I blinked, and wondered if they’d been practicing in some alternate universe last time

"I don’t know," I said I didn’t add that I probably wouldn’t be there, either "Listen, just play your best

Practice your kicks Saint Mark’s is supposed to be a good teaonna win!" Paul yel ed, and bounced the bal off Maria’s head She didn’t notice

"Yeah!" said Kathleen "Best coach ever!"

Jack gavebark

"Okay," I said "Welyour parents wil be here soon Solet’s clean up the equipave a cheer and went screao Then I stared down at the extra unifor I’d saved Jeoalie vest

Soht, I’d decided not to cal Maia’s Despite the tio in person

I had to talk to Je on He deserved to know

It would be better not to bring the uniforame Even best- case scenario--no way

I shouldn’t waste anotherto help Erainya I needed to get Ralph Arguel o working on et to Austin

But I took the time to walk the rainy field I col ected the bal s the kids had kicked to the far corners of creation I locked up the supply shed And I stayed at the playground until ot put safely in her parent’s car